Immigration to the United States can be a confusing and complex process if you attempt to navigate everything yourself. One good example of this is the popular H1B visa, a non-immigrant visa that allows certain foreign citizens to be hired in technical or specialized professional roles. Take a look below at just three of the biggest reasons why working with an attorney during the H1B application process can be hugely beneficial.
Communicating With Your Employer
When it comes to applying for an H1B visa, one of the most common misconceptions is that you have to do it yourself. The truth is that an H1B visa is always first applied for by the prospective employer who is hoping to hire the foreign national in question. Unfortunately, if a company representative is completing the application for the first time, they may be doing so without their own attorney, and therefore be more likely to make mistakes that derail the application entirely. Hiring an immigration lawyer of your own can open a line of communication with your future employer and ensure that the entirety of the process is conducted as smoothly as possible.
Completing a Petition
One of the most important parts of the application is the petition. This is necessary because an H1B is not granted to just anyone. Instead, visas are only granted to those who possess both a Bachelor's degree (or a more advanced degree) and highly technical skills. This is why H1B holders are commonly employed in fields such as engineering and information technology. But the nature of skills that are considered "highly technical" is itself subjective, and so applicants can benefit from having an attorney who knows how to put together a compelling petition with the documentation to back it up. If your prospective employer has not already hired an immigration attorney, contact one in your area as soon as you begin working on the petition.
Visas for Dependents
If your spouse or children plan to move with you to the US, then they'll need to apply and be granted H-4 dependent visas. This is a separate but related process, and one that is often not covered by prospective employers. That said, if you are married or have children, it is more than worthwhile to obtain the assistance of an attorney well-versed in current regulations. For a comprehensive idea of what to expect, don't hesitate to schedule an initial consultation with an immigration lawyer.
Share3 November 2022
My son has been best friends with a little boy from up the street for about two years. When his family came to me and told me that they may be leaving because of immigration issues, my heart broke. Those two boys spend so much time together and I knew that my son and his friend would be scarred for life if they were separated like that. I told the family that I would do some digging and talk with an immigration attorney friend of mine and see what I could find out. This blog was created to help this family as well as any others going through immigration struggles.